ASHLEY Sweet has been named Ebbw Vale’s best player of 2010/11 at a star-studded Steelmen presentation evening on Saturday night.

Legends of the club’s past were in attendance to honour the efforts of the current crop of players – which took the Steelmen to the Division One East title in April.

And it was second row colossus Sweet who was voted the most vital cog in the Ebbw Machine – winning both the supporters’ player and players’ player of the year gongs.

The presentation – held in a packed out Welfare and attended by players, coaches, backroom staff, directors, supporters and sponsors – was the culmination of a rollercoaster year for Ebbw Vale.

After fighting off crippling debts and building a new squad from scratch last summer, they pipped Newbridge to the Division One East title.

Their Premiership crusade was ended at Cardiff Arms Park two weeks later, when they were left heartbroken by a last minute Glamorgan Wanderers’ try which saw them off in the playoff semi-final.

But the bitter aftertaste left by that defeat has been sweetened by a host of players pledging allegiance to the club for next year in the last three weeks and the awards night had an expectant mood looking ahead to next season.

The first award, for the supporters’ clubman of the year, went to evergreen kit manager, Ron Taylor, who has provided wonderful service to the club for more than 20 years.

In accepting the award, Ron paid tribute to his fellow backroom staff and to the current squad and coaches who he said “Make him very proud to be associated with the club”.

The supporters’ young player of the year went to speedy trickster Wes Cunliffe. The flying winger, who signed on the dotted line this week to confirm he would again be a Steelman for next season, ran in a vital 12 league tries for the Vale last term.

Accepting the award, the 24-year-old thanked his team mates, the coaches, and the backroom staff for supporting him in his first season at the club and in assisting his development as a rugby player. He also thanked his grandfather for all he has done over many years.

There was no surprise when the supporters’ player of the year was announced. Peerless Ashley Sweet has dominated the line out throughout the season, enabling the fearsome Ebbw driving maul to again be a central part of Ebbw’s season success.

Ashley expressed his gratitude to the supporters for voting for him. He said: “This club has the best group of supporters of any club I’ve played for – and I’ve played for quite a few.”

The first of the club awards, for outstanding service, went to gentleman scribe and former fixtures secretary, Roy “REL” Lewis, who has been associated with the club since the 1930s.

Roy continues to produce articles for the matchday programme and website which are always thoughtful and telling, but never cruel or bitter. His humour shone through in his acceptance speech, when he said: “I’d love to buy you all a drink. But I’m not going to.”

Gareth Howls, who played 608 games for the Steelmen between 1965 and 1981 – a record never likely to be broken – was present to make the award which has been named after him in honour of his service to the club.

The Gareth Howls Captain’s Award went to skipper Damien Hudd. Vice captain Tristan Davies accepted the trophy on Damien’s behalf as he was not present, but the audience were treated to a “live video link-up” between Damien and coach Neil Edwards, in which he described his pride at having led the squad to the championship at the first attempt.

The player’s player of the year award, named after Ebbw legend Denzil Williams who was capped 36 times by Wales and played five times for the British Lions, was also won by 32-year-old Sweet. The gong was presented to him by club director Jon Jones.

Finally, the Clive Burgess Man of Steel award, named in honour of the late Ebbw ball-carrying back row, was awarded to prop Ross Jones.

Jones scooped the prize in recognition of the spirit, determination and guts he displayed at the coal face throughout the season.

Pointing to the classic photo of Clive Burgess charging at Gareth Edwards, Neil Edwards said: “That epitomises the spirit that we want the players to emulate, and nobody showed more of it this season than Ross.”